Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Pubescens) – Kurchi (Kutaj)

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (also called Kurchi, Kutaj, Kutaja & Vatsak in Ayurveda) is a medicinal plant that has antidysenteric, antidiarrheal, and anti-amoebic properties. In Ayurveda, it is used for the treatment of amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, bleeding piles, and liver disorders.

Botanical Description

Holarrhena Antidysenterica is not accepted scientific name. The accepted botanical name is Holarrhena Pubescens.

Common Names

Botanical Name

Holarrhena Pubescens

Botanical Synonym

Holarrhena Antidysenterica & Holarrhena Febrifuga

English Name

Tellicherry Bark

Hindi Name

Kutaj, Kutaja

Sanskrit Name

Vatsak

Ayurvedic Name

Kutaj, Kurchi

Also Spelled As

Kutaja

Botanical Classification (Plant Taxonomy)

Kingdom

Plantae

Sub-Kingdom

Viridiplantae

Infra Kingdom

Streptophyta (Land Plants)

Super Division

Embryophyta

Division

Tracheophyta (Tracheophytes Or Vascular Plants)

Sub Division

Spermatophytina (Spermatophytes Or Seed Plants)

Class

Magnoliopsida

Super Order

Asteranae

Order

Gentianales

Family

Apocynaceae (Apocyns, Dogbane)

Genus

Holarrhena R

Species

Holarrhena Pubescens Wall ex G. Don

Medicinal Parts

In ayurveda, Seeds and bark of the Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) are used for therapeutic purposes. Both have antibacterial and antidiarrheal effects.

Therapeutic Indications

Both seeds and stem bark of Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) is useful in following conditions.

Dysentery

Diarrhea

Diarrhea with Fever

Amoebiasis

Indications of Kutaj Seeds

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) seeds are also useful in following conditions in addition to above diseases.

Abdominal Pain

Intestinal worms

Leucorrhea

Nausea & Vomiting (Roasted Seed Powder)

Indications of Kutaj Flowers

Frequent urination

Indications of Kutaj Leaves

Jaundice

Intestinal worms

Benefits & Medicinal Uses

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi/Kutaj) has bitter astringent taste, but it is beneficial for dysentery and diarrhea. It reduces mucus content in stool and check bleeding.

Amebic Dysentery

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi/Kutaj) is a drug of choice in Amebic Dysentery. It completely kills Entamoeba Histolytica, the causative agent of Amebiasis. It also prevents amoebiasis lying dormant by destroying Entamoeba Histolytica and clears it from the intestines and liver completely. This is the unique property of Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi). The stem bark and seeds both are equally beneficial in Amebic Dysentery.

According to clinical study, Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi) provides about 70% good results in people with intestinal amoebiasis. It diminishes all symptoms like loose stools, flatulence, cramps or tenesmus before defecation, and mucus in the stool. (4)

Vatsakadi Kashayam and Vatsakadi Churna are more beneficial for amoebiasis because these formulations also contain other ingredients, which help boosting anti-protozoal action of the Kurchi (Kutaja).

Bacillary Dysentery – Shigella Infection (Shigellosis)

Bacillary dysentery is a bacterial infection caused by shigella bacteria, which results in fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Diarrhea in Shigella Infection accompanies with mucus and blood content in the stool.

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi/Kutaj) has antibacterial activities, which also appear against Shigella bacteria. CONESSINE and CONIMINE in the Holarrhena Antidysenterica inhibit the growth of some strains of Shigella bacteria. (5, 6)

The extract of stem bark of Kutaj has significant bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect against Shigella Boydii, Shigella Flexneri and Shigella Soneii, which is comparable to standard allopathic drugs. However, the moderate effect against Shigella Dysenteirae is observed in research study. (7)

The stem bark of Kurchi (Kutaj) is used in ayurveda for reducing symptoms of Shigellosis, especially blood and mucus content in the stool.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli Adhesion

The seed extract of Holarrhena Antidysenterica have similar antibacterial properties against Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli. (9)

Intestinal infections due to certain types of Escherichia Coli bacteria are treatable with Holarrhena Antidysenterica. It helps reducing symptoms like diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The ayurvedic formulations containing Kutaj are more useful in intestinal infections.

Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii (MDRAB)

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) is investigated for its effects against Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii (MDRAB). Kutaj appears to be resistant modifier for Acinetobacter Baumannii. The possible action of Holarrhena Antidysenterica extract is that it weakens the outer membrane and interrupts its permeability in case of A. Baumannii. (10)

Diarrhea

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) is a drug of choice for diarrhea in ayurveda. It has potent anti-diarrheal and antibacterial properties. (11)

The microbial action of Kutaj bark and seeds appear against a variety of bacteria, which cause diarrhea or intestinal infections.

In diarrhea, Along with Nagarmotha (Cyperus Rotundus) and Sonth (Zingiber Officinale), it works well when patient has sticky and smelly stool with mucus. According to ayurveda, this type of diarrhea is known as AMA ATISARA. However, the Kutaj does not have potent action against AMA, but Kutaj along with these herbs digests and eliminates AMA and reduces frequency of loose stools. The following herbal combination should be used for best results in acute diarrhea cases.

Reduce water to 60 ml and drink this decoction twice daily to cure diarrhea.

Kidney Stone

Holarrhena Antidysenterica has antiurolithic action. It possibly inhibits aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys. It also has renal epithelial cell protective effects and antioxidant action, which might play a role in prevention of kidney stones and renal diseases. (12, 13)

Kutaj (Kurchi) seeds are used for relieving renal colic and kidney stones. Seed powder (1.5 grams) and Nishoth powder (1.5 grams) is given with buttermilk for removing stones.

Difficulty in Urination

The root bark of Kutaj Tree helps in urinary difficulty that accompanies with burning micturition, or painful urination. It relieves pain, reduces burning sensation and stimulates the proper urination. For this purpose, 2 grams root bark of Kutaj Tree is used along with Cow’s Milk.

Jaundice

The juice of new tender leaves of Kutaj Tree is given on empty stomach for 3 to 7 days to normalize bilirubin level and stimulate liver functions. It is excellent treatment for Jaundice due to any underlying reason. It plays a hepato-protective as well as curative role in jaundice.

Excessive Uterine Bleeding

Haemostatic action of Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) helps reducing uterine bleeding. However, it is not used alone in this condition. Its ayurvedic formulations like Kutajaveleha are more beneficial.

Abdominal Cramps or Pain

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) seeds (Indrayava) are beneficial for relieving abdominal cramps or pain. For this, a decoction prepared using 10 grams seeds (Indrayava) in 240 ml water and reduced to 60 ml is used along with Hing Churna (250 mg) for 2 to 3 times. However, if long-term treatment is required, then the dosage of Hing Churna should be reduced to 65 mg instead of 250 mg.

Bleeding Piles

Haemostatic action of Kutaj Bark reduces bleeding in hemorrhoids. The decoction prepared using 10 grams Kutaj Bark in 240 ml water and reduced to 60 ml is used along with Ativisha (Aconitum Heterophyllum) Churna (500 mg) twice daily for 3 to 7 days.

Intestinal Worms

However, Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi) is not used alone for treating worm infestation, but along with other anthelmintic remedies, it provides excellent treatment for intestinal worms.

Dosage & Administration

The dosage of different parts of Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kutaj) is as follows:

Stem Bark

The general dosage of Kutaj Stem Bark Churna is as follows.

Infants

150 mg *

Children

500 mg to 1.5 grams *

Adults

3 grams *

Pregnancy

1.5 grams *

Geriatric (Old age)

1.5 grams *

Maximum Possible Dosage

12 grams per day (in divided doses)

* Twice Daily with Warm Water

When to Take: After Food

Seeds

The general dosage of Seed Powder is as follows.

Infants

250 mg *

Children

500 mg *

Adults

3 grams *

Pregnancy

1 grams *

Geriatric (Old age)

1 grams *

Maximum Possible Dosage

12 grams per day (in divided doses)

* Twice Daily with Warm Water

When to Take: After Food

Bark or Seed Extract of Kutaj

The general dosage of Bark or Seed Extract is as follows.

Infants

25 to 50 mg *

Children

100 to 250 mg *

Adults

250 to 500 mg *

Pregnancy

250 mg *

Geriatric (Old age)

250 mg *

Maximum Possible Dosage

1000 mg per day (in divided doses)

* Twice Daily with Warm Water

When to Take: After Food

Kutaj Bark Decoction

The general dosage of Kutaj Bark Decoction is as follows.

Children

30 ml *

Adults

60 ml *

Maximum Possible Dosage

120 ml per day (in divided doses)

* The decoction should be prepared using 10 grams bark powder and 240 ml water. It should be reduced to one-fourth (60 ml). The decoction can be taken Twice Daily.

When to Take: Before Food

Safety Profile

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi) is considerably safe for most individuals when taken under professional supervision and within the dosage recommended in ayurveda.

Side Effects

Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi/Kutaj) does not have any side effects. However, its bitter taste may induce vomiting or nausea in some people.

Pregnancy & Lactation

In ayurveda, Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi/Kutaj) is used since thousands of years for the management of diarrhea and intestinal disorders in pregnant women and lactating mothers. There are no adverse effects reported with Holarrhena Antidysenterica bark and seeds when used in natural form.

Contraindications

There are no absolute contraindications of Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Kurchi/Kutaj).

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Dr. Jagdev Singh (B.A.M.S., M. Sc. in Medicinal Plants) is a Licensed Ayurvedic Practitioner under Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) Act India and Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Medicine, Chandigarh since 2010. He is running his ‘Ayurveda Clinic’ in Rupnagar, Punjab, India.

He has successfully treated thousands of patients with Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Diet. Ayur Times is an initiative of his efforts to bring quality information on Indian Medicine with the highest level of relevancy and scientific evidence.